Method of counterbalancing window-sashes, &amp;c.



J. B. STRAUSS. METHOD 0F GOUNTBRBALANOING WINDOW -SASHES, &0.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 4, 1907.

P atented May 12, 1914.

W/NfSSES:

714 (QW/ff COLUMBIA vLANOan/PH co..wAsmN0roN. n, C.

UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS, `0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF COUNTERBALANCING WINDOW-SASHES, &c.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPrr B. S'rRAUss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Counterbalancing Vindow-Sashes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the method of counter-balancing window sashes, window curtains and the like, and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view showing a ear window embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line HL-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is a sectional View showing one method of counterweighting the sash.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings I have shown the device as applied to a street railway car, as a street car presents difficulties not found in the ordinary window or the window of an ordinary railwayl car.

In the drawings I have illustrated a window having the two sashes 1, 2, the upper sash being shorter than the lower sash. lVhen the window is closed these sashes are brought together and are fastened by some suitable fastening device 3. A flexible supporting device is attached to each of the sashes and passes over suitable sheaves. Fastened at each side of the sash 1 are the flexible supporting devices or cables l and 5, and fastened to the sash 2 are the flexible supporting devices G and 7. The attachment to the sash may be made in any desired manner. As herein shown this attachment is made by means of brackets 8 which are arranged to clamp the flexible supporting devices in any desired manner, as by means of the set screws 9 (see Fig. 3), said set screws being adapted to be tightened up so as to clamp the flexible supporting device or wire. Each sash isprovided with two of these brackets one on each side thereof.

The sashes are also preferably provided with rollers 10 which engage runways 11 of any suitable description. These rollers are preferably mounted upon supports 12, there being a spring 13 between such supports tending to elastically press the rollers against Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 4, 1907.

4other in the opposite direction.

Patented May 12, 1914.

Serial No. 400,689.

while the wires and 7 pass over the sheaves' or pulleys 1G at the top and 17 at the bottom. The latter pulleys are of larger diameter than the pulleys 14k in view of the fact that the lower sash must move a greater distance than the upper sash. The sheaves 14, and 1G, and 15 and 17 are connected so as to rotate together, and their relative diameter is such as to secure the full movement of the two sashes. The wires Ll and 5 are wound in one direction around the sheaves 14: and 15, while the wires (3 and 7 are wound in the opposite direction around the sheaves 1G and 17 In view of the fact that the wires Al and 5 are fastened to the sash 1, and the wires (S and 7 to the sash 2, `it will be seen that if one of these sashes, for example sash 2, is moved downwardly there is a pull upon the wires G and 7 and this pull rotates the sheaves 1G, thus unwinding the wires thereon, at the same time rotating the sheaves 111: and winding the wires 11- and 5 thereon, thus simultaneously lifting the upper' sash l. The pull ou the wires il; and 5 rotates the sheaves 15 and 17 so as to cause the unwinding of the wires l and 5 and the winding of the wires G and 7. A similar result will be secured if the sash 1 is moved upwardly. In this event there will be a pull upon the wires Ll; and 5 which will act upon the sheaves 15 causing them to rotate, which rotation rotates sheaves 17 thus winding the wires G and 7 thereon and pulling down the sash 2. lVhen it is desired to close the window the upper sash may be pulled down, or the lower sash lifted up. If the upper sash is pulled down the pull on the wires Il and 5 rotates sheaves 14 and 16, thus pulling up the sash 2, the pull on the wires (3 and 7 in turn rotating the sheaves 15 and 17. The sashes are thus moved until they come together. If the closing is produced by pulling up the lower sash the pull on the wires (3 and 7 rotates pulleys 15 and 17, and causes the upper sash 1 to move downwardly. .It will thus be seen that the two sashes are operatively connected together so that a movement of one produces a movement of the It will further be seen that these two sashes are connected together so that they tend to balance each other, thus making the movement thereof easy and causing the sashes to remain in any position to which they are moved, and making it possible to easily and quickly open the window to any extent desired.

Then the window sashes are of ditl'erent sizes as shown in the drawing it may be desired to provide one sash with a suitable weight so as to produce the desired balancing eiiect. It the sashes are of the same size, the pulleys 111- and 16 and 15 and 17 would also be the same size. I prefer to use some means for tightening up the flexible supporting devices, such for example, as the turn buckles 18. lVhen the pulleys 14C and 16 and 17 and 15 are of a different size, it is desirable to provide the wires et and 5 with the idle sheaves 19 near the ends of the window so as to preferably direct the wires to the smaller sheaves. rlhe upper and lower sashes move into proper compartments into which they are received. This construction insures positive action oit' the parts and prevents binding thereof. lt also permits the operation oi the device by the inexperienced with ease and rapidity.

The two vertical moving parts or sections are in the various applications of my invention moved in opposite directions. The construction shown in Fig. 1 is a balancing device, at its were, comprising two elements opposed to and counteracting each other.

It will further be seen that each of these elements acts, as it were, as an obstructing device to obstruct the admission of air or light or the like into the apartment with which the device is associated. It will iurther be noted that when the sections 1 and 2 differ in size as shown, for example, in the drawing, there is means provided for regulating the movement so that they will move at di'erent speeds and so that when open they will expose different areas.

It will be noted that in this construction the two ends of the sections are brought in proximity to each other when the window is closed and that there is means provided for separating the two sections by simultaneously moving them in opposite directions so as to form a space between them when it is desired to open the window. llt will further lbe seen that the upper section moves upwardly and the lower section downwardly when it is desired to spread the sections apart to open the window, and that the two sections are nevertheless connected together so as to tend to counterbalance each other. The sections are therefore under complete control and can be easily moved so as to open the window as little or as much as desired, giving the passenger complete control over the same. During this movement the upper section is received into an upper receiving space and the lower section into a lower receiving space. y

In the present construction there is a positive connection between the sections of the window adapted to positively move either section up or down when the other` section is moved. This positive connection is essential to the proper operation of the device, as it insures its proper operation under the conditions of use.

In case one of the sashes is counterweighted the counterweight may be supplied in any desired maner, as is shown, for example, in Fig. l where the material of the sash is cut away and the counterweight material, 20, is inserted.

It will be noted that the balancing connection by which one section is balanced by the other is located between edges of the sections, and the faces of the posts forming the portion of the inclosing wall adjacent to the window opening.

I claim:

l. A window comprising two vertical moving sections adapted to be moved in opposite directions to open the window, ilexible supporting devices connected to each of said sections, two pairs of sheaves associated with said window, one at the top and one at Y 'Y the bottom, the members of each pair connected so as to rotate in unison, the flexible supporting device from one moving section connected to one member of each pair of sheaves, and the flexible supporting device from the other section being connected with the other member of each of said pair of sheaves. Y

2. A window comprising two movable sections, two sheaves located side 4by side in proximity to each section, flexible supporting devices connected to each of said sections, each section being connected by said flexible supporting devices with a sheave associated with that section, and also' a sheave associated with the other section, the sections connected together so that the upper section is moved upwardly and the lower section downwardly to open the window.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

lllitnesses EDNA K. REYNOLDS, LUCY A. FALKENBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

